scarce — ozdic

Definitions

adj

1

Uncommon, rare; difficult to find; insufficient to meet a demand.

By the end of the 20th century elephants had become scarce even in Africa.

You tell him silver is scarcer now in England, and therefore risen in value one fifth.

2

Scantily supplied (with); deficient (in); used with of.

The project failed due to the scarce resources in the national market.

a region scarce of prey

adv

1

Scarcely, only just.

The Virgin quite for her requeſt / The God that ſits at marriage feaſt; / He at their invoking came / But with a ſcarce-wel-lighted flame; / And in his Garland as he ſtood, / Ye might diſcern a Cipreſs bud.

I was at the Mathematical School, where the Maſter taught his Pupils after a Method ſcarce imaginable to us in Europe. The Propoſition and Demonſtration were fairly written on a thin Wafer, with Ink compoſed of a Cephalick Tincture. This the Student was to ſwallow upon a faſting Stomach, and for three days following eat nothing but Bread and Water. As the Wafer digeſted, the Tincture mounted to his Brain, bearing the Propoſition along with it.

name

1

A surname.

Collocations

6

1

(adj.)

VERBS

be, seem

become, grow

Fresh water has become scarce in many parts of the world due to climate change.

remain

ADV

extremely, particularly, very

increasingly

Good teachers are becoming increasingly scarce in rural areas of the country.

pretty, rather, relatively, somewhat

Fresh supplies were pretty scarce during the winter months, so we had to plan carefully.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

adverb — only a very short time before

adverb — almost not

Antonyms

abundant

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

6

01

By the end of the 20th century elephants had become scarce even in Africa.

Wiktionary

02

You tell him silver is scarcer now in England, and therefore risen in value one fifth.

Wiktionary

03

My hopes wa'n't disappointed. I never saw clams thicker than they was along them inshore flats. I filled my dreener in no time, and then it come to me that 'twouldn't be a bad idee to get a lot more,

Wiktionary

04

The Virgin quite for her requeſt / The God that ſits at marriage feaſt; / He at their invoking came / But with a ſcarce-wel-lighted flame; / And in his Garland as he ſtood, / Ye might diſcern a Cipreſ

Wiktionary

05

I was at the Mathematical School, where the Maſter taught his Pupils after a Method ſcarce imaginable to us in Europe. The Propoſition and Demonſtration were fairly written on a thin Wafer, with Ink c

Wiktionary

06

And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, / That I scarce was sure I heard you […]

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, scarce is marked as archaic, literary. Watch for register when choosing this word.